H. G. Dyar - Bluebook 451-473, 1894

When you've had a long day at work, what do you do to unwind? For entomologist Harrison G. Dyar it was digging tunnels--multi-level catacombs beneath his house in Washington D.C.'s Dupont Circle. Before Dyar made a name for himself as an eccentric tunnel constructor, he had spent decades classifying moths and mosquitoes for the Smithsonian. This field book documents Dyar's 1894 work observing and collecting insects. He would go on to discover thousands of new insect species (in addition to all that digging!). You can help other digital volunteers transcribe Dyar's notes and make them newly accessible for present-day scientists. We are transcribing Dyar's field notes as part of #DigIntoDyar. To cap our event, Smithsonian Libraries will host a behind-the-scenes Google Hangout with Marc Epstein; he'll discuss Dyar's work, life, and legacy on May 17 at 2:30 pm ET (UTC-5). Join us online to learn more.